Dental machine



Feb. 17, 1931.l .1. M. CRAIGO DENTAL MACHINE Filed May 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

Feb. 17, 1931.

Filed May 23, 1928 J. M. CRAIGO DENTAL MACHINE 2 sheets-sbav 2' 314 vewf Patented Feb. 17, 1931 JOHN la. CRAIGO, or HARTFQRD, CONNECTICUT DENTAL MACHINE Application led May 23,

This invention relates to a. machine Vfor use in dental worlr, and has particular reference to an apparatus for forming wire clasps re movably ati ached to a tooth, and to which clasp a denture is to be secured.

lleretofore it has been the general prac tice to make clasps of this sort by hand, a procedure which made the clasps relatively expensive. Considerable difliculty was experienced in properly forming the clasp-s and the operation was a laborious one and re quired considerable lsl-:ill and `time on the part of the operator.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eifective apparatus by means of which clasps may be accurately formedr at a relatively slight expense of time and labor.

By the use of the present machine, clasps varying in size andv shape may be quickly and properly formed.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.Y y Y The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of `the appli- 0 cation of which will be indicated inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown for illustrative purposes one embodiment which the present invention may take:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the die elements; A

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4.-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view ofthe' entire machine;

Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the bottom die and the side dies;

Fig. 7 is a view looking at the lower end of the reciprocating male die; and 59 Fig. 8 is a perspective/view of' a clasp of 1928. serial No. 280,005.

the type adaped to be formed in the machine ofthe present invention.

In order that the construction and operaltion of the machine in the application here selected for illustration may be more clearly understoodv as the description proceeds, the clasp, shown in Fig. 8, will first be described. lt is understood, of course, that a clasp of this sort has been and is in general use. This clasp is formed of wire and has a pair of arms 60 a connected by a U-shaped portion having upright legs and a cross piece c. The legs a are adapted to straddle a tooth in the mouth and a. denture is adapted to vbe soldered or otherwise secured to the U-shaped portion. Gbviously, the size and shape of the clasp will vary in accordance with the tooth to which it isto beremovably secured and to the denture adapted to be secured to the clasp.

Referring to the machine in detail, it has a frame with a base 10, a standard 11 and a head 12. Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the head is a plunger 13 of Vany desired construction. This plunger may be moved up and down through any preferredv form of mechanism. For example, there may be pivoted in the head a lever 14 the forward end of which is bifurcated so as to straddle a pin 15 carried bythe plunger. 16 is an operating handle pivoted in the head 12 80 and having its'forward edge bifurcated so as to straddle a pin`17 on the rear end of the lever 14. Y

The numeral 2O designates a male die which is in the form of a strip having a groove 21 in 85 its lower end. The side edges of the male die at their lower ends are also grooved, as at 22, so that the grooves 21 and 22 form, so to speak, a U-shaped groove.

' The groove 21 may be vertically arched or 99 bowed as shown in Fig. 4 and also may be transversely curved, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to give the desired shape to the cross piece c of the clasp. The male die 20 is adapted to be F removablysecured toa holder 23 which in 9 turn is removably secured to the lower end of the plunger 13. The upper end of the male die 2O lits in a groove in the holder 23 and may be secured in place by a set screw 24;. The holder Y23 has lstem 25V tting ws in a bore in the lower end of the plunger 13. 'll he stem is secured in place by a set screw 26. The inner end of this set screw is tapered or conical, and lits in a correspondingly shaped recess in the stem so as to properly locate the holder and the male die carried thereby with respect to the female die.

The female die is formed of a plurality o'j die elements which are re ively adjustable so that clasps of various sizes and shapes may be formed by the use thereof. These die elements are so associated as to form a general U-.Liihaped groove which is complementary to the die `grooves ol the male die 20. The teniale die includes a central or bottom die element and two side die elements which straddle the bottom die elelnent 30 and eXtend thereabove. rEhe bottom die element is in the form ot a circular post having in its upper end a transverse groove 31 shaped correspondingly to and opposed to the groove 21 in the bottom edge of the male die 20. In the present illustrative disclosure,y each ol the side die elements is in the form of a pair of blocks the adjacent inner corners of which are concave-dly rounded so as to form a semi-circular groove 33 which is complementary to the opposed side groove 22 ol the male member.

The pairs of die bloc is 32 are respectively carried by holders 35 mounted for vertical and transverse adjustments.

The numeral designates a transversely extending guide rail which is preferably removably secured to the base 10 beneath the plunger 13 in order that this rail, together with the parts carried thereby, may be removed when the trame is to used in connection with other devices. Extending`r through and pinned to the rail is a stud 4l, the lower end of which lits in an openinginthe base and secured in place by, a set screw 42. T he bottom die element 30 is removably7 secured to the upper end of the stud 41 by means ot a set screw 44. rl`he set screw 44 is formed similarly to the screws 2G and 42 so as to properly position the die element 30 and prevent it from turni Adjustably mounted to each side of tl stud 41 is a slide 45. rlhese slides are adap'ed to be locked in adiustcd position on the rail 40 by clamping` screws 46. Carried by each slide 45 is a vertical pest 47, which is screw-threaded as at 4S, and the upper end of which is smooth and flattened at one side, as at 49. Each of the screw-threaded portions 48 receives an adjustin@v nut 50. The holders 45 have vertical round openings which respectively receive the posts 4?. By preference, each of the posts has pin 56 and each mgeniiap- 55 has a` vertical groove 57 adapted to receive the pin. These holders are adapted to rest upon the adjusting' nuts 50 and are secured in adjusted position by set screws 53. rThe opposed faces ol the supports or holders 35 are recessed s0 as to receiv the die blocks 32, these die blocks being secured in place by screws 60 (see F Upon the upper ends of the side die elements forming or bendine surfaces, about which the arms a are ad ted to be shaped. Each ol the side die elements i' provided with a pair ot upwardly eften'zlingzg` projections TO and Tl. The outside surfaces oi the projections TO are curved or rounded so that the two surfaces 72 term the opposite parts of a circle, so to speak. The outside surlaces T3 olf the projections 7l are curved in a similar manner. Between each pair projections Z0 and Z1 a slot Z4 which is in alinemcnt with a respective die groove 99 n, Tux

su V

U1). The projections 71 are smaller than the projections TO. lvlhcn a clasp of large size to be made, the members can be employed, and when a clasp of smaller size is to be made the projections 71 ca be user. At the top oli each die bloch 32 and at the base olthe curve(` surfaces 72 and 73 are vertically curved or arched bending' or forming surfaces. For example, at the base ot each projection 70 is a vertically curved surface 75. and the base ci each ol: the projections 71 is a vertically curved surface 75. ln the present illustrative disclosure, each surface 75 is provided on a vertically adjustable member 77 which lits in a groove 78 in a die block and which is adapted to be scoured in adjusted position by a set screw 79. It is to be understood that the machine will be provided with die elements oli various sizes and shapes which are interchangeable so that the machine may be employed for makingY- clasps ot' the character described of almost any desired shape or size.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows: The size and shape ol the clasp to be made having been determined by an examination ot the tooth to which it is to be applied, die members 20 and 30 of' the required size and shape will be selected and secured in place. The holders 35 'for the side die elements will then be transversely adjusted so as to bring;1 the grooves 33 along;` vside of the bottom die 30. Also these holders 35 will be adjusted by turning' the nuts 50 so that side die elements will project the desired distances above the top ot the bottom die 30. lt may be that one leg` of the clasp is to be longer than the other one in which event one ol" the side die elements will be adjusted in a higher position than the other one. Also the forming; members 77 may be adjusted to produce the desired shape of the arm without lengthening the legs b. The machine having' been. properly adjusted, a piece of wire oi" the selected gage is placed so that it extends through the slots 74 in which position a portion ol the wire is between the male die Q0 and the bottom die 30. rlhen the lever 1G is operated so as to move the plunger 13 downwardly, thus Tiff."

the ends of the wire, which may be done by any suitable tool.

It will be observed that the clasp is formed in inverted position.

It will further be observed that by the use of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, a clasp of the nature described may be very quickly, accurately and economically formed.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely dierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptionor shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die having a bottom die element with a transverse groove and apair of side die elements with grooves at right angles to the-groove in the bottom die element, the said side die elements being adjustable, a male die having a transverse groove and vertical grooves leading therefrom, the grooves in said male die being complementary to the grooves in the female die, and means for moving the male die into and out of the female die.

2L ln a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die hav' ing a central die elementand two side Vdie elements, said die elements having a U-shaped ove, means for adjusting said side die elements with respct to the central die Yeleadapted to be bent whereby tion is imparted to the arms.

il. In a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die having a U-shaped groove, a male die having a complementary U-shaped groove, a transversely curved forming surface at each side of and at ,the top of the U-shaped groove in the female die, said surfaces being adapted to have the wire bent therearound and a vertically grooved surface at the base thereof.

in a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die having a central die element and side die elements, said die elements having grooves forming a U, a male die element 'having a groove complementary to the U groove of said female die, and a projection on each of a curved forma side die elements with an edge alined with D the groove thereof, said projections having surfaces curved in a plane at right angles to the lengths of the grooves in said side die elements, each ofsaid die elements also-having at its top a vertically curved forming surface.

6. In a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die having a central die element and a pair of side die elements, said die elements having grooves which together form a U-shaped groove, and aV male die element having a U-shaped groove complementary to the U-shaped groove of the female die, each ofsaid side die elements having a pair ofprojections of different sizes with a slot therebetween in alignment with the groove in the side die element, the eXter'- zontally curved, the tops of saidside die elements at the base of each of said horizontally curved surfaces being-vertically curved.

7. In a dental machine for forming clasps of the character described, a female die having a central die element and a pair of side die elements, said die elements having grooves which form a U-shaped groove, a male die having a groove complementary to the groove of the female die, each of the side die ele- Sii ill)

nal surfaces of said projections being horiments having a projection one edge of which is in alignment with'the edge of the groove in the side die element, said projections having surfaces curved Ain a plane to which the grooves ofthe side die elements are normal,

said side die elements also having adjustable vertically' curved surfaces leading from the groove in the side die elements. Y

8. In a dental machine for forming clasps ofthe 'character described, a female die having a bottom die element with a transverse groove and a pair of side die elements with yvertical grooves, a male die having a transverse groove and vertical grooves, the grooves in said-male die being complementary to the grooves in the female die, and a. pair of curved surfaces forming a'bending corner at llt) the upper end of each groove of each sid-e die element.

9. In a dental machine for forming, clasps of the character described, a female die having a. central die element and al pair of side die elements, said die elements having` grooves which foi .i a U-shaped groove, a male die havingA a froove complementarj7 to the 4'roove of the female die, each of said side die elements having` at the end of the groeve therein a slot and bending surfaces at each side of said slot, and means for reciprocating said male die.

10. ln a dent-al machine for forming' clasps of the character desc ibed, a frame, a rail carried thereby, a central die. a male die opposed to said central die, a slide on said rail to each side of said central die, a holder verticallj7 adjustable on each of said slides, and a side die element carried by each of said holders.

11. In a` dental machine for forming clasps of the character described. a frame, a transverselj7 extending rail thereon. a center die having a groove, a pair of slides disposed to said sides of said center die and adjnstabh7 mounted on said rail. screws for clamping' said slides in place, postcarried b v each rail, a holder verticalh7 adjustable on each post, nuts for adjusting said holders. said die elements carried bv said holders, and a male die substantially as described.

12. In a dental machine for forming clasps, a female die having` a pair of side die elements, male die element adapted to move into position betiveen said side die elements to form a U bend in the clasp. a transverselv curved forming' surface at the top of each side die element, and a. vertically curved surface at the base thereof.

13. ln a dental machine for forming` clasps. a female die having; a pair of spaced side die elements, male die element adapted to move into position between said side die elements to form a U bend in the clasp, and a projection on each of said side die elements. said projections having` surfaces curved in a plane at right angles to the lengths of the arms of the U bend, each of said side die elements also having' at its top a vertically curved formino; surface.

14. In a dental machine for forming clasps, a female die havingy a pair of side die elements. a male die elementadapted to move into position between said side die elements to form a U bend in the clasp, each of said side die elements having a slot adapted to receive the Wire from Which the clasp is formed` each of said side die elements also having bending' surfaces at each side of said slot, and means for reciprocating said male die.

15. In a dental machine for forming clasps, a. frame, a transv-erselj7 extending rail thereon, a central die, a pair of slides disposed on opposite sides of said central die and adjustably mounted on said rail, means for holding said slides in adjusted position, a holder vertically adjustable on each of said slides, means for adjusting said holders, die elements carried by said holders, and a male die.

JOHN M. CRAEGO.

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